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Ge1 Uts Lesson 5 and 6

The document discusses several psychological perspectives on the self: 1) It examines William James and Roy Baumeister's differing views on whether people have a single unified self or multiple selves. 2) It outlines Henriques' model of the self consisting of three related domains: the private experiential self, experiential self-consciousness, and the public self. 3) It discusses Gordon Allport's trait theory and his categorization of traits as cardinal, central, and secondary. 4) It provides an overview of Eric Berne's transactional analysis theory, including his conceptualization of the ego as having parent, adult, and child states.

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Sean Kean Muyo
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
56 views

Ge1 Uts Lesson 5 and 6

The document discusses several psychological perspectives on the self: 1) It examines William James and Roy Baumeister's differing views on whether people have a single unified self or multiple selves. 2) It outlines Henriques' model of the self consisting of three related domains: the private experiential self, experiential self-consciousness, and the public self. 3) It discusses Gordon Allport's trait theory and his categorization of traits as cardinal, central, and secondary. 4) It provides an overview of Eric Berne's transactional analysis theory, including his conceptualization of the ego as having parent, adult, and child states.

Uploaded by

Sean Kean Muyo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNDERSTANDING THE SELF – GE 1

LESSON 5 – PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF


‘I AM WHO I AM”

Introduction

The individual’s exploration to Know Oneself especially the issues of self and identity
are the most basic and essential task that everyone has had to carry out. The
question ‘What is Self?’ is indeed a complex question that different psychologists try to
answer by giving their individual perspectives.

Part 2:

I. The Self as seen from the Psychological Perspective

Multiple vs. Unified Selves


Understanding why we have a multiplicity of self-states

William James (1890) said, "Properly


speaking, a man has as many social selves as there
are individuals who recognize him and carry an
image of him in their head."

Roy F. Baumeister (2010) cited, "But the


concept of the self loses its meaning if a person
has multiple selves.... the essence of self
involves integration of diverse experiences into a
unity.... In short, unity is one of the defining
features of selfhood and identity.

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These two statements from the two experts depict competing perspectives on
one of the most longwithstanding puzzles for psychologists in their study of the “self.”
What is the Self? And, more specifically, is there just one ‘self’ in each person or do we
really consist of many different selves? When faced with this question, majority respond
initially that there is just one ‘self’.

Gregg Henriques (2014) However, to


reflect deeper, Henriques stated that let’s start
with a basic common sense response and say
that there is a single self. This position can
initially be justified by the basic observation
that we reside in one body

He stated that our body can be conceived of


as an object and like most 'normal sized'
objects, it exists in one location in space and
time and in that sense it is singular.

Henriques clarifies the question, what does the ‘self’ consist of? He describes the
“human self”as consisting of three related but also separable domains.
Private Self
Experiential Self consciousness Public Self or
or "narrator" or "Persona"
“interpreter”
This is the 'theater of This is the portion of your The final portion of the self
consciousness' and the being that verbally narrates is the public self or
first person felt experience what is happening and why persona.
of being. In this context, it and tries to make sense of
includes the felt what is going on. As you It refers to the public image
consistency of being read this lesson, and think thay you attempt to project
across periods of time. about what it means, is an others, which in turn
example of your verbal interacts with how other
This is the part of you that narrator is working. people actually see you –
“disappears” when you the crucial element of this
enter a deep sleep, flickers It also the part that portion of the self.
on and off as you dream, includes your reportable
and then comes back on self-concept and explicit
line as you wake up. beliefs and values about
the way the world works
Antonio Damasio, a (e.g. your religious and
neuropsychologist shares political beliefs).
that this portion of the self

2|Page
– is the one that relates This portion of the self is
very directly to experiential what Damasio calls the
consciousness, and it also “autobiographical self”.
relates deeply to your core
drives/needs and
emotionally organized
feeling states.
Henriques mapped three parts of “the human self” which will make us aware that
although we tend to experience a sense of continuity and unity of the self, the fact of the
matter is that it is much simple to say that we have one self and be done with it. If you
have ever been surprised by how you acted, or felt confused, conflicted, or uncertain
about who you truly are, or realized how dramatically different you feel in different
situations or in different moods, then you know that this thing we call the ‘self’ can have
many different and often competing facets and states.

2. Gordon Allport’s Personality Theory

Gordon Allport was born in Montezuma, Indiana,


on November 11, 1897. He was an American
psychologist. Allport was one of the first
psychologists to focus on the study of the
personality, and is often referred to as one of the
founding figures of personality
psychology. Wikipedia

Psychologist Gordon Alport proposed a “personality trait” theory asserting that every
person possesses “traits.” According to Allport, a “trait” is your essential characteristics
that never, ever changes and sticks with you all your life. Moreover, these traits shape
who you are (how you think, feel, or behave, etc.) in any given day. (Hall, &Lindzey,
1957; Morris, et. al., 2002).

Allport proposed that there are three fundamental categories of traits: cardinal, central,
and secondary (Allport 1961, 1966).

Cardinal trait-- is a single characteristic that directs most of a person's activities.


For example, a totally selfless woman may direct all her energy toward
humanitarian activities; an intensely power-hungry person may be driven by an all-
consuming need for control.

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Central trait
According to Allport, most people, however, do not develop a single,
comprehensive cardinal trait. Instead, they posses a handful of central traits that
make up the core of personality.
Central traits, such as honesty and sociability, are an individual's major
characteristics; they usually number from five to ten in any one person.

Secondary traits – are characteristics that affect behavior in fewer situations and
http://www.social-psychology.de/do/pt_allport.pdf
are less influential than central or cardinal traits.
For instance, a reluctance to eat meat and a love of modern art would be
3. Eric Berne – The Ego States
considered secondary traits.

3. Eric Berne – Transactional Analysis: The Three (3) Ego States

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. Eric Berne (May


10, 1910 – July 15, 1970) was a Canadian-
born psychiatrist who created the theory of
transactional analysis as a way of explaining human
behavior. 
Berne's theory of transactional analysis was based
on the ideas of Freud but was distinctly different.
-- Wikipedia

Transactional Analysis is a personality theory which gives us a picture of how people


are sttructured psychologically. It is underpinned by the philosophy that people can
change, and we all have a right to be in the world and be accepted. Berne (1965)
stated that the Transactional theory of personality is also a theory of life. Berne’s views
on human behaviour were influenced by the Freudian theory, Alfred Adler’s notion of life
cycle, Carl Jung’s archetype’s and wholeness, and Stack Sullivand and some other
non-Freudians. However, these influences did not overshadow his originality,
imagination and creativity in his conceptualization and descriptions of human behavior
and motivations.

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According to Berne, every individual is born with the capacity to develop his potentials
to the best advantage of himself and society. To enjoy himself and to be able to work
productively and creatively and to be free of psychological disabilities. TA believes that
each individual is untimately responsible for his own life decisions. It is also a basic
assumption in Transactional Analysis that all clients need total cure instead of being
helped.

Transactional Analysis views men as beings that develop mental attitudes that
influence all their transactions. His mental attitudes he called life positions; which is
about I and You being Ok or not Ok.However, Transactional Analysis constructs the
following classifications of life positions in respect of oneself and others.

1. I am not Ok; You are Ok.


2. I am not Ok; You are not Ok.
3. I am Ok; You are not Ok.
4. I am Ok; You are Ok. (Harris, 1969)

Berne mapped interpersonal relationships to three ego-states of the individuals


which include: the Parent, Adult, and Child state. He then investigated
communications between individuals based on the current state of each, which he
called these Interpersonal Interactions Transactions and used the label Games to
refer to certain patterns of transactions which popped up repeatedly in everyday life.

The Theory
A transaction – the fundamental unit of social intercourse.
A transactional stimulus – if two or more people encouncer with each other… sooner
or later, one of them will speak, or give some indication of acknowledging the presence
of others.
A transactional response – another person will then say or do something which is in
some way related to the stimulus.

Berne’s Three (3) Ego States


The human brain works like a camcorder. IT records all our thoughts, feelings, and
emotions since childhood which we tend to replay in our adult life.

Ego state – a consistent pattern of feeling and experience directly related to a


corresponding consistent pattern of bahavior.

Clues from Critical Parent Nurturing Adult Free Child Adapted


Parent
Words Should, must, Don’t worry, How, I wish, wow, Please,
don’t, good, bad let me help when, love hate sorry, I can’t,
you, there where, I try
understan
d

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Tones Harsh, abrupt, Soothing, Calm, Joyful, Complaining,
authoritarian Counselling, clear, evennoisy, surely,
loving energetic monotone
Gestures/ Finger pointing, Pat on arm, Level eye Exaggerated Head tilted
Mannerisms arms crossed nodding, contact, movements, to one side,
encouragingl absence of uninhibited fidgeting,
y fidgeting slouching
Facial Rolling eyes, Smiling, Open, Bright-eyes, Pouting,
Expressions furrowed brow, proud eyes thoughtful smiling downcast,
scowling freely not engaged

The Transactional Analysis Parent-Adult-Child Model

Parent Adult Child

Parent Ego State Adult Ego State Child Ego State

Behaviors, thoughts Behavior, thoughts and Behavior, thoughts


and feelings copied feelings which are and feelings replayed
from parents or parent direct responses to the from childhood.
figures. here and now.

Two (2) types of The planner, observer, Two (2) types of


Parent ego state: organizer, and Child ego:
analyzer.
1. Nurturing Parent 1. Free/Natural Child
ego – Voice of The part of self that ego –the
unconditional can think logically and spontaneous,
acceptance, hope, and rationally and act emotive, creative,
optimism. accordingly. and in-the-moment
The source of self part of self.
soothing and self-
recognition 2. Adapted Child ego
– the part of self that
2. Critical Parent ego makes emotional
– Monitors, adherence decisions about self
to rules, shoulds and and the world based
musts, and on past and
expectations of self presentdrivers,
and others. injunctions, biology,
6 | PLargely
age automatic. and environment.
Communication Model by Albert Mehrabian
Albert Mehrabian ‘s Communication model: 7 – 38 – 55

We communicate with one another by means of language, gestures, signs


andpictograms. In 1970s, Albert Mehrabian, psychology professor studied the
importance of non-verbal communication. He developed a communication model, in
which he demonstrated that only 7% of what we communicate consists of the literal
content of the message. The use of one’s voice, such as tone, intonation and volume,
take up 38% and as much as 55% of communication consists of body language. This 7
– 38 – 55 -model is still much used today.

 Actual Words

 The way words are


delivered (tone, accents
on certain words, etc.)

 Facial expressions

According to Albert Mehrabian, interpersonal communication regarding the


communication model consists of three elements:
1. Words spoken (Verbal)
That which is literally being said. The spoken word is part of the verbal communication
in this and the intonation and body language are both part of the non-verbal
communication.

2. Intonation (Vocal)
How something is said (use of voice). Intonation is the vocal factor and body language
the vocal factor.

3. Body language (Visual)


Which posture, facial expressions and gestures someone uses.

7|Page
Berne says that we can communicate on two levels.
1. The Social message – what we say
2. the Psychological message – what we mean
Example:
Sarcasm is a great example of this. When we are sarcastic, what we say
is the opposite of what we mean.

Analyzing Transactions

Structural Analysis – the process of analyzing personality in terms of ego states.

 Straight transactions (or complementary transactions) – the response must


go back from the receiving ego state to the sending ego state
 Simplest transactions are between
o Adult-Adult ego states
o Parent-Child transactions are almost as simple as Adult-Adult
transactions

 Crossed transaction
 Not all transactions between humans are healthy or normal. In those
cases, the transaction is classified as a crossed transaction.
 In a crossed transaction, an ego state different than the ego state which
received stimuli is the one that responds.

Example:
Agent’s Adult Respondent’s Child
“Do you know where my cuff “You always blame me for
links are?” everything!”
(Note that this stimuli is
directed at the Respondent’s
Adult)

When we learn to differentiate to recognize and differentiate between straight and


crossed transactions, we increase our ability to communicate clearly with others.
Conversations made up of straight transactions are more emotionally satisfying and
productive than conversations that have frequent crossed transactions.

4. D. W. Winnicott – True vs. False Self

8|Page
Donald Woods Winnicott FRCP was an English
paediatrician and psychoanalyst who was especially
influential in the field of object relations theory and
developmental psychology. Wikipedia

Donald Winnicottin 1960, originally introduced the psychological concepts, true self
and false self. Winnicott termed and used true self to describe a sense of self based on
spontaneous authentic experience and a feeling of being alive, having a real self. By
contrast, false self will be experienced by a person as a defensive façade, which, in
extreme cases, could leave its holders lacking spontaneity and feeling dead and empty,
behind a mere appearance of being real.
TRUE SELF FALSE SELF

Other term Also known as real self, Also known as fake self,
authentic self, original self idealized self, superficial self
and vulnerable self. and pseudo self.
Characteristics The true self as rooted from Winnicott expressed that the
early infancy in the false self is the product of
experience of being alive, early experience. It is a
what Winnicott called simply defensive organization
being. formed by the infant because
of inadequate mothering or
The baby’s spontaneous, failure in empathy.
nonverbal gesture derive from
that instinctual sense, and if He added that the false self is
responded to by the mother, developed as the infant is
become the basis for the repeatedly subjected to
continuing development of maternal care that intrudes
the true self. Winnicott called upon, rejects, or abandons
this as ‘good enough his or her experience
parenting’. (Daehnert, 1998).

True self comprehended The false self is based on


when one creates the being constantly expected to
experience of a sense of follow rules, a false self
reality, or a sense that life is
develops. The false self is a
worth living. mask or a persona. It is a
form of defense that
Winnicott believed that constantly seeks to anticipate
people unconsciously repeat others’ demands and

9|Page
early relationships complying with them, as a
(particularly the mother-infant way of protecting the true self
relationship) in one form or from a world that is felt to be
another. A child whose unsafe.
mother is positively
responsive and supports the However, when the person
child’s natural process of has false self but can still
individuation will grow up as function both as an individual
an adult with stable self- and in the society, then he or
image; views other people she has a healthy false self.
realistically; and accept both The healthy false self feels
the positive and negative side that it is still connected with
of every person including the true self. Thus, it can be
himself/herself (Jones-Smith, compliant without feeling
2011). guilty that it abandoned its
true self.

On the other hand, there is


also the unhealthy false self.
An individual who may seem
happy ang comfortable inn
his or her environment but
actually feels forced to fit in
and constantly needs to
adjust his or her behavior to
adapt to the social situation is
said to have an unhealthy
false self.

II. The Self as Proactive and Agentic


Be Proactive and Agentic.

It means more than merely taking initiativeIt means that as human beings, we’re
responsible for our own lives.We are the creative force of our own lives. Our behavior is
a function of our decisions, not our conditions.It is not what happens to us, but our
response to what happens to us that hurts us.Of course things can hurt us physically or
economically or can cause sorrow, but our character, our basic identity, does not have
to be hurt at all.In fact our most difficult experiences become the crucibles that forge our
character and develop the internal powers, the freedom to handle difficult circumstances
in the future, and to inspire others to do so as well.

Victor Frankl, is one of many who have been able to develop the personal freedom in
difficult circumstances to lift and inspire others. Frankl was imprisoned in the death
camps of Nazi, Germany. His parents, his brother, many of his loved one were sent to
gas ovens. Except for his sister and wife, his entire family perished.One day, alone in a

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small room, he began to become aware of what he called the last of the human
freedoms, the freedom his Nazi captors could not take away. They could control his
entire environment. They cound do what they wanted to his body, but Virctor Frankl
himself was a self-aware being who could look as an observer at his very involvement.
His basic identity, his character was intact. He could decide within himself how all of
this was going to affect him.

Between what happened to him and his response to it was his freedom or power to
choose that response. In the midst of his experiences, Frankl would project himself into
different circumstances such as lecturing his students after his release from the death
camps. He would describe himself in the classsroom, in the mind’s eye, and give his
studens the lessons he was learning during his very torture. Through series of such
disciplines, he exercised his small, embryonic freedom until it grew larger and larger,
until he had more freedom than his Nazi captors. They had more liberty, more options
to choose from in their environment, but he had more freedom, more internal power to
exercise his options. He became an inspiration to those around him. He helped others
find meaning in their suffering,and dignity in their prison existence.

It is inspiring to realize that in choosing our response to circumstance, we too can


powerfully affect our circumstance. We do not have to pass through the difficult
experience of Frankl to recognize and develop our own proactivity. It is in the ordinary
events of every day that we develop the proactive capacity to handle the extraordinary
pressures of life.

B. What being proactive is about?


They take initiative and get things done. They think ahead and set up systems
thatmake life easier. Let us consider what it takes to be a proactive person:

1. this kind of person is energetic and enthusiastic


Her energy is contagious. It spreads easily to other members. Proactive people take
the initiative. That doesn’t mean they’re pushy or aggressive.

2. Acknowledge their responsibility to make things happen.


By comparison, team members who are not proactive wait for things to happen, and
then react.That can be a problem because when the unexpected happens, they’re not
prepared. When you hit the problem after another… just bump into things and try to
keep on going, It can also be really stressful.

3. Proactive persons are good planners.


They think ahead, anticipate problems, prepare in advance. And when things start
going wrong, a proactive person doesn’t sit around – they take action.(thinking about
what could go wrong..building extra time into our schedules, and figuring out backup
plans. Quite a creative process actually.

3. Creative problem solvers.


They search for signs of potential problems and find innovative solutions.

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4. Good communicators.
They anticipate questions others might have, and that helps them be clear and
thorough.
If you want to play a more central role in your team, sstrive to be more proactive. You’ll
inspire others to excel and you’ll help your team meet or even exceed its goals.

C. How to be proactive on a team?


If you want to play a more central role in your team, Strive to be more proactive!
You’ll inspire others to excell… and you’ll help your team meet its goals.

1. Being proactive is about taking the initiative and getting things done.
About being enthusiastic… about planning ahead.. anticipating problems, and finding
creative ways to solve them.
It’s clear that could help a team perform at its best. But it is not always easy to turn
things around ---to switch from reactive approach to one that’s more proactive.
So how do you start? Well… you just start!

2. You identify opportunities for action.


Think about the work your team does, the processes it uses. What doesn’t work as well
as it could? Then fiqure out what you could do to make things better
Example:
Ashley: “We’re getting behind deadline on this one.”
Akira: I know, but the client asked for changes and that means redoing a lot of
programming work.
Mary: And completely redoing the sales charts we designed weeks ago!

*How did Ashley turn things around?

Ashley: I suggested that we change our approval process.Have the client give
us feedback more often, and much earlier.
Mary: Make a huge difference. Now the client reviews or work twice a week,
sometimes more. And that means never having to redo weeks of work at
a time.
Being proactive isn’t just about having ideas and putting them into action. Remember,
that you are part of a team and for ideas to succeed you’ve to get your team members’
support.

2. Get your team members’ support.


Sometimes introducing new ideas means dealing with fear of resistance to change.

*Consider how Ashley handles this…


Ashley: So Akira and Mary, you seem okay with trying out a new approval
process.
Lauren, what do you think?

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Lauren: I don’t know. Seems like inviting the client to interfere more. Not sure,
we
need to add another complicating factor.
Ashley: I understand. This is really about inimizing the implact of client changes
though.
Akira: That’s right – I’ve been having to redo so much work!

References:
O’Connor, Wren. (2017). Educational and Developmental Psychology. Larsen & Keller
Education, 5 Penn Plaza, 19th Floor, New Your, NY 10001, USA

https://niklasgoeke.com/self-awareness-activities/#20Write_a_regret_letter. Retrieved datedAugust


15, 2020

Feldman, Robert S. (2015)Understanding Psychology, 12th Edition, Mc Graw-Hill Education,


2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121

Mulder, P. (2012). Communication Model by Albert Mehrabian. Retrieved [insert date] from


toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/communication-skills/communication-model-mehrabian/

Otig, Vergie S., (2018). A Holistic Approach in Understanding the Self. Mutya
Publishing House, Inc., Potrero, Malabon City.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_self_and_false_self

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201404/one-self-or-many-selves

https://www.google.com/search?q=sample+statement+in+adult+state+in+transactional+analysis

https://taguig.percipio.com/courses/5630b381-fea5-11e6-8 6380242c0a80b06/videos/5630da82-fea5-
11e6-8638-0242c0a80b06

https://taguig.percipio.com/courses/26f20801-05cd-11e7-b6c3-0242c0a80802/videos/50537380-f272-
11e8-a3f0-07dcf0c94ea9

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF – GE 1

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LESSON 6 – THE SELF IN WESTERN AND ORIENTAL/EASTERN
THOUGHT
“People Around Me”

Introduction

As part of one society, we become accustomed of our own culture. But as we


explore and tried something new, we also enable to adapt the others culture. For this
reason, human being became confuse on what they believe in and at the end doubted
whether what they think that is right before might not be right at the moment in a given
situation.

I. INDIVIDUALISTIC VS. COLLECTIVE SELF

Our first cultural value dimension is individualism versus collectivism.


Individualism stresses individual goals and the rights of the individual person.
Collectivism focuses on group goals, what is best for the collective group, and
personal relationships.

An individualist is motivated by personal rewards and benefits. Individualist


persons set personal goals and objectives based on self. Individualistic workers are
very comfortable working with autonomy and not part of a team.

The collectivist is motivated by group goals. Long-term relationships are very


important. Collectivistic persons easily sacrifice individual benefit or praise to recognize
and honor the team’s success. In fact, being singled out and honored as an individual
from the rest of the team may be embarrassing to the collectivistic person.

The generalized geographic clusters of individualism may be found in Anglo


countries, Germanic Europe, and Nordic Europe. Geographic clusters for collectivism
are often located in Arab countries, Latin America, Confucian Asia, Southern Asia, and
Sub-Saharan Africa.

An example of how individualism versus collectivism may play out at a university


is related to academic integrity. At a university in the United States where individualism
is considered the norm, each individual student is expected and generally required to do
their own individual work. Sometimes this is confusing to international students from
collectivistic societies who come to a university in the United States. The collectivistic
expectation is that if another student with whom you have a personal relationship needs

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your help, then you provide that help. A collectivistic student has a mandatory social
obligation to help the other student succeed. This higher collectivistic social obligation
can be in direct violation of academic integrity in an individualistic academic setting.

Individualism versus collectivism. (2020). Retrieved 15 July 2020, from


https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/develop-cultural-intelligence/0/steps/49772

That is why if you consider yourself having an individualistic self you might get the
idea of the Americans who are fond of saying “ I am my own man” and you believe that
you should assert and stand on your own. Just like the famous poem “Invictus”
by William Ernest Henley that quotes “ I am the master of my fate; I am the captain
of my soul” this only implies that you are the one who control your own consequences
of you own action. Being Independent and who value personal goals over group
interest.
On the other hand, if you considered yourself as having a collective self which is one
of the Filipino characteristics in which this is one of their strengths such as deep love
and concern for the family or what we called as strong family ties.
In collectivistic culture people are interdependence and live harmoniously with one
another. Their utmost significance is to be a part of social networks and maintain good
relationship with them at the same time fulfilling their obligation as part of the society.

II. THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE SELF IN WESTERN THOUGHT

Humans are being considered as the bearer of inimitable values by the Ancient
Grecian philosophers.

In medieval times, Saint Thomas Aquinas, believed that the body constitutes
individuality. The western tradition is generally acknowledged to be “imbued with a
style of thinking based on dichotomy and binary opposition”.

Psychiatrist and professor, Frank Johnson (1985), outline four categories on how
term “self: is used in contemporary western discussion.

1. Analytical –Tendency to see reality as an aggregate (collection) part


2. Monotheistic – tendency toward unitary explanations of phenomenon and a closed
system view of “self” as modeled after unitary, omnipotent power.
3. Individualistic – western thinking where self-expression and self-actualization are
important ways of establishing who one is, as well as in finding satisfaction in the
world.
4. Materialistic/rationalistic – tends to discredit explanation that do not use analytic-
deductive modes of thinking.

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Links: Eastern Philosphy Vs. Western Philosophy : https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Eu3oIVuvbJg

III. THE SELF EMBEDDED IN RELATIONSHIPS AND THROUGH SPIRITUAL


DEVELOPMENT IN CONFUCIAN THOUGHT

The earliest writing in the East are the Vedas. Vedas illustrate the eastern mindset
of nondual universe but rather a creation that is completely unified with the creator, with
no distinction. (Watts, 1965)

It formed the Hindu philosophy and Dharma (The principle of cosmic Order).

According to these sacred Hindu Texts, the true nature of human is described as
“Brahman” which is the divine universal consciousness encompassing the universe.
Brahman is the Self that is all within us.

Thus, one of the main points of Hinduism is “change your perception of the world
to perceive the Brahman in oneself and in others” .

BUDHHISM

Buddhism began in India and became a major religion. Siddhartha Gautama


searched for wisdom in many ways. The teachings of Buddhism deal with finding peace
that spread far from where it began in India.

Siddhartha was born a prince, but he questioned the meaning of life. He is


determined to find answers using:

• Meditation
• Fasting
• Learning from different teachers

He found it under the Tree of Wisdom while meditating and when a by passer saw
him and see the light emanate in him that is the time rumour spread and called the
Buddha the Enlightened One. He spent the rest of his life traveling and teaching his
ideas

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Teachings of Buddhism - Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow.
2. Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods.
3. People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach nirvana, a state of perfect
peace.
4. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eightfold path that
leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation.

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The Eightfold Path

Buddhism began in India and then became a major religion. Asoka, one of the most
powerful kings in India, became a Buddhist and spread Buddhism in India and foreign
lands. Buddhist missionaries traveled the world to teach enlightenment.

Buddhism split into two main sects: Theravada and Mahayana.

1. Members of the Theravada followed the Buddha’s teachings exactly.


2. Members of the Mahayana believed that individual interpretation was important.

CONFUCIUS

Confucius is a Chinese teacher and philosopher. He was the founder of the


religion Confucianism. The religion is based on the writings and teaching of Confucius.
Most stories contain a moral message.

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Reading from the
Analects (Text,
pp. 1-14) Confucius (Kung Fu-Tzu)

Family name = Kung (Kong)


Personal name = Zhong-ni
Kung Fu-Tzu (Kong Fu-zi) = “Master Kung”
“Confucius” = Latinization of “Kung Fu-Tzu”

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Teachings of Confucius

Confucius did not claim his teachings to be original. He thought his teachings
were the works of wise men before him. He hoped to bring peace, stability, and
prosperity to China’s kingdoms.

Confucius himself never wrote down his teachings. Instead, his students gathered a
collection of his sayings after his death. His writings became a philosophy – system of
beliefs and values, that became known as Confucianism.

Four Beginnings

Confucian Philosophy presented the idea that every person is born with four beginnings.

1. Heart of compassion that leads to Jen.


2. Heart of righteousness that leads to Yi.
3. Heart or propriety that leads to Li and
4. Heart of wisdom that leads to Chih.

• Jen means goodwill, sympathy toward others, politeness and generosity.


• Yi means rightness and the respect rightness and the respect of duty (you must
respect your position as a guardian toward nature and humanity).
• Li means having the right to practice propriety in all that you do.
• Chih means wisdom; this wisdom is expressed by putting jen, yi and li into
practice.

In a given human condition, Personality is an achieved state of moral excellence.


That is why human tried to maintain homeostasis in order to achieve balance in his life.

Respecting Others

Confucius taught that people should know their place in life and society. They should
respect people above and below them.

The Five Relationships

1. Ruler and Ruled


2. Father and son
3. Husband and wife
4. Older Brother and younger brother
5. Friend and Friend

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TAOISM

The Great Tao flows everywhere.

It may go left or right


All things depend on it for life.
and it does not turn away from them.
It accomplishes its task, but does not
claim
credit for it.
It clothes and feeds all things
but does not claim to be master
over them.
Tao Te Ching, chapter 30

Lao Tzu

He was born in 604 B.C. E., his name means “old master.” He was believed to be
conceived by a shooting star. When his mother gave birth to him, he was already eighty
two years old, a wise man with flowing white hair. He worked as a government archivist.

Eventually, he became disenchanted with the corruption of government. He left his


town after taking three days to write down his words of wisdom, The Tao Te Ching.

The Philosophy of Tao

 Tao is both the ultimate source and principle of order in the universe.
 Tao has two components, yin and yang.
 Taoism regards moral values as relative and avoids absolute moral judgments.
 Taoism literature says nothing about the afterlife and depicts death as one of
nature’s transformations from one state to another.

Humans are part of the grand harmony of nature and to live in accord with the Tao is
the only way to thrive.

YIN AND YANG

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Traits of Yin and Yang

YANG YIN

– Positive - Negative
– Active - Passive
– Masculine
- Feminine
– Heavenly
- Earthly

Virtues in Taoism

Wu-wei = primary virtue and means “non-action.” To practice wu-wei is to be so


perfectly in harmony with nature that its energy infuses and empowers the individual.
 Humility and noncompetition
 Naturalness and naturalism
 Nonaggression and passive rule

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References:

Otis, Vergie, et.al,(2018) ,A Holistic Approach in Understanding The Self, Mutya


Publisher ,Philippines
Website:

Eastern Philosphy Vs. Western Philosophy YouTube. (2020). Retrieved 6 July


2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu3oIVuvbJg
Individualism versus collectivism. (2020). Retrieved 15 July 2020, from
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/develop-cultural-intelligence/0/steps/49772

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